Rob Walker | Yahoo TechRob Walker is a technology and culture columnist for Yahoo News. A contributor to Design Observer and The New York Times, he previously wrote the Consumed column for The New York Times Magazine, and Ad Report Card for Slate. His books include Significant Objects (co-edited with Joshua Glenn) and Buying In.https://www.yahoo.com/tech/author/rob-walkeren-USCopyright (c) 2015 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.What Makes a Good Modern Feud?Breaking down the elements of an excellent feud, with the help of Bill O'Reilly.

Breaking down the elements of an excellent feud, with the help of Bill O'Reilly.

]]>Wed, 25 Feb 2015 13:00:34 GMThttps://www.yahoo.com/tech/what-makes-a-good-modern-feud-111985922149.html?src=rss11198592214910 Years of Google Maps, 10 Years of Google Maps HacksCheck out some of the coolest things artists have done with Google Maps in its 10 years of existence.

Check out some of the coolest things artists have done with Google Maps in its 10 years of existence.

]]>Wed, 11 Feb 2015 14:02:03 GMThttps://www.yahoo.com/tech/10-years-of-google-maps-10-years-of-google-maps-110665872589.html?src=rss110665872589Measles Is Spreading. Blame Doubtiness.The most surprising thing to go viral so far this year isn’t a video of a precocious pet, a politician’s telling gaffe, or an unlikely Super Bowl star. It’s the measles.

The most surprising thing to go viral so far this year isn’t a video of a precocious pet, a politician’s telling gaffe, or an unlikely Super Bowl star. It’s the measles.

]]>Wed, 04 Feb 2015 14:08:26 GMThttps://www.yahoo.com/tech/measles-is-spreading-blame-doubtiness-109998088614.html?src=rss109998088614Is Customer Service Comcast’s ‘Best Product’?Just a few weeks ago, Comcast Cable CEO Neil Smith pledged that "customer service will soon be one of our best products." In a strange way, it already is.

Just a few weeks ago, Comcast Cable CEO Neil Smith pledged that "customer service will soon be one of our best products." In a strange way, it already is.

]]>Fri, 30 Jan 2015 15:45:11 GMThttps://www.yahoo.com/tech/is-customer-service-comcasts-best-product-109583267554.html?src=rss109583267554The New Great American Pastime: Drone-HuntingOn Monday, a hobbyist’s drone made a surprising appearance on the lawn of the White House. These drones, you might have noticed, are everywhere.

On Monday, a hobbyist’s drone made a surprising appearance on the lawn of the White House. These drones, you might have noticed, are everywhere.

]]>Wed, 28 Jan 2015 14:29:16 GMThttps://www.yahoo.com/tech/why-do-americans-love-taking-down-drones-109392460239.html?src=rss109392460239President Obama Interviewed by YouTube Stars: Not a Train Wreck!So what does democracy look like in the social media age? Maybe it looks like a YouTube star wearing green lipstick, offering the president some merch to give to “your first wife.”

So what does democracy look like in the social media age? Maybe it looks like a YouTube star wearing green lipstick, offering the president some merch to give to “your first wife.”

]]>Fri, 23 Jan 2015 20:54:49 GMThttps://www.yahoo.com/tech/president-obama-interviewed-by-youtube-stars-not-108923206789.html?src=rss108923206789Using Brain-Wave Technology to ... Create Art?Yet the quest to control our technology with minimal effort continued. This past summer, my Yahoo Tech colleague Dan Tynan braved the existing marketplace of products that point to a future in which we can “control objects — your phone, computer, car stereo, game console, lights inside your house, and more — using only your thoughts.” Today, the technology’s practical applications remain a tantalizing idea. But brainwave-reading has made the most headway in what is perhaps a surprising field: the arts.

Yet the quest to control our technology with minimal effort continued. This past summer, my Yahoo Tech colleague Dan Tynan braved the existing marketplace of products that point to a future in which we can “control objects — your phone, computer, car stereo, game console, lights inside your house, and more — using only your thoughts.” Today, the technology’s practical applications remain a tantalizing idea. But brainwave-reading has made the most headway in what is perhaps a surprising field: the arts.

I’m so excited to learn that someone is already pushing a new hot tech trend for 2015 — and it’s boredom!

]]>Fri, 16 Jan 2015 13:00:24 GMThttps://www.yahoo.com/tech/2015s-hottest-trend-in-tech-boredom-108204214329.html?src=rss108204214329How PBS — That’s Right, PBS — Learned to Thrive on YouTubeMany old media companies have struggled in the Internet era. But there's one that hasn't. One of the coolest, most successful, and frankly surprising digital experiments has come from the Public Broadcasting System.

Many old media companies have struggled in the Internet era. But there's one that hasn't. One of the coolest, most successful, and frankly surprising digital experiments has come from the Public Broadcasting System.

]]>Wed, 14 Jan 2015 11:00:44 GMThttps://www.yahoo.com/tech/how-pbs-thats-right-pbs-learned-to-thrive-on-108009265254.html?src=rss108009265254Why I Won’t Watch the Paris Massacre VideosThe grim, startling, and ultimately tragic news of the attack on the Paris offices of satire magazine Charlie Hebdo has come to us in forms so raw they would have been unimaginable not so long ago: Partly unfolding in full view of nearby citizens’ smartphones, it was substantially captured in digital footage that almost immediately zoomed out across our global village. Is this because I’m squeamish?

The grim, startling, and ultimately tragic news of the attack on the Paris offices of satire magazine Charlie Hebdo has come to us in forms so raw they would have been unimaginable not so long ago: Partly unfolding in full view of nearby citizens’ smartphones, it was substantially captured in digital footage that almost immediately zoomed out across our global village. Is this because I’m squeamish?

]]>Thu, 08 Jan 2015 20:12:58 GMThttps://www.yahoo.com/tech/why-i-wont-watch-the-paris-massacre-videos-107521886339.html?src=rss107521886339Forget Selfies. 2014 Was the Year of the Earthie.Particularly in the past few months, there’s been an outpouring of jaw-dropping imagery (some new, some newly repackaged for online consumption) taken from space.

Particularly in the past few months, there’s been an outpouring of jaw-dropping imagery (some new, some newly repackaged for online consumption) taken from space.

]]>Wed, 07 Jan 2015 16:25:13 GMThttps://www.yahoo.com/tech/forget-selfies-2014-was-the-year-of-the-earthie-107347271869.html?src=rss1073472718692015 Will Be a Year of Apologies. Maybe Yours.As you mull over all your virtuous resolutions for the New Year, here’s something else you might want to do with 2015 in mind: Prepare to apologize. “But I’ve done nothing wrong!” you’re thinking. “And I would never say anything that requires an apology!” Maybe you even believe this to be the case. The problem is, you’re using outdated parameters. We all say and do things that might be upsetting to others, if only they knew we said them. So get ready to apologize.

As you mull over all your virtuous resolutions for the New Year, here’s something else you might want to do with 2015 in mind: Prepare to apologize. “But I’ve done nothing wrong!” you’re thinking. “And I would never say anything that requires an apology!” Maybe you even believe this to be the case. The problem is, you’re using outdated parameters. We all say and do things that might be upsetting to others, if only they knew we said them. So get ready to apologize.

]]>Thu, 01 Jan 2015 13:00:33 GMThttps://www.yahoo.com/tech/2015-will-be-a-year-of-apologies-maybe-yours-106640700109.html?src=rss106640700109The Sad Internet: 2014 in ReviewThe Internet is a place of both joyous wonder — and corrosive meanness. There are delightful and hilarious memes and GIFs and videos made by GoPro-wearing puppies. And there are nasty troll attacks, flame wars, and outrage galore. In 2014, however, we noticed a number of projects and sites that don’t fit either trope: neither Happy Internet nor Angry Internet. They suggest, instead, a Sad Internet. Join us for a tour.

The Internet is a place of both joyous wonder — and corrosive meanness. There are delightful and hilarious memes and GIFs and videos made by GoPro-wearing puppies. And there are nasty troll attacks, flame wars, and outrage galore. In 2014, however, we noticed a number of projects and sites that don’t fit either trope: neither Happy Internet nor Angry Internet. They suggest, instead, a Sad Internet. Join us for a tour.

]]>Wed, 31 Dec 2014 12:00:02 GMThttps://www.yahoo.com/tech/the-sad-internet-2014-in-review-106557156229.html?src=rss106557156229How the Yule Log Became a Multimedia StarA televised Yule Log is already pretty weird. But weird things have a tendency to leap geographic boundaries these days. Thus the Yule Log — in many variations (or knockoffs, if you’re a purist) — is now everywhere: On Netflix, all over YouTube, and on various local and cable stations around the country.

A televised Yule Log is already pretty weird. But weird things have a tendency to leap geographic boundaries these days. Thus the Yule Log — in many variations (or knockoffs, if you’re a purist) — is now everywhere: On Netflix, all over YouTube, and on various local and cable stations around the country.

]]>Wed, 24 Dec 2014 13:00:57 GMThttps://www.yahoo.com/tech/how-the-yule-log-became-a-multimedia-star-105986368459.html?src=rss105986368459The Podcasts to Listen to When You’re Done with ‘Serial’We're wrapping up the Year of the Podcast. Which ones should you subscribe to in 2015?

We're wrapping up the Year of the Podcast. Which ones should you subscribe to in 2015?

]]>Thu, 18 Dec 2014 21:42:27 GMThttps://www.yahoo.com/tech/the-podcasts-to-listen-to-when-youre-done-with-105551026679.html?src=rss105551026679Crash into Tree: The Fascinating New Genre of Drone Flyaway VideosDrone mania has had some cool side effects. All kinds of people really are capturing amazing images, both stills and video, from high in the air that previously would have required massively expensive equipment. They’re also capturing footage of their drones crashing, thanks to embedded cameras that keep rolling before, during, and after these hobbyist drones come tumbling down.

Drone mania has had some cool side effects. All kinds of people really are capturing amazing images, both stills and video, from high in the air that previously would have required massively expensive equipment. They’re also capturing footage of their drones crashing, thanks to embedded cameras that keep rolling before, during, and after these hobbyist drones come tumbling down.

Still haven’t come up with something to satisfy that one discriminating geek with outside-the-(gift)-box taste? Read on.

]]>Mon, 15 Dec 2014 13:00:03 GMThttps://www.yahoo.com/tech/gift-ideas-14-possibilities-for-the-105021054619.html?src=rss105021054619The Dangers of Automating Our LivesIt’s one of the most seductive, and widespread, promises of our age: technology that handles all tedious details and frees up us humans to think big thoughts, or just relax. Writer Nicholas Carr scrutinizes the side effects of these delightful-sounding developments in his new book, The Glass Cage: Automation and Us.

It’s one of the most seductive, and widespread, promises of our age: technology that handles all tedious details and frees up us humans to think big thoughts, or just relax. Writer Nicholas Carr scrutinizes the side effects of these delightful-sounding developments in his new book, The Glass Cage: Automation and Us.